Move follows fatal incident at CITIC Tower that killed pilot and injured 13 people.
Image: Aviation Today
China has reportedly restricted private aviation operators from flying light fixed-wing aircraft following a small plane crash into one of Beijing’s tallest buildings last week, according to media reports.
The incident occurred on Friday when a Sunward SA60L Aurora light-sport aircraft crashed into CITIC Tower (China Zun), killing the pilot and injuring 13 people, authorities said.
Following the crash, several operators of small aircraft and glider services were grounded, while recreational aviation activities such as skydiving and paragliding were also suspended under a broader airspace control order, according to reports.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, while flight-tracking data reportedly showed a sharp drop in civilian aircraft activity after the incident.
The move comes amid tighter regulation of low-altitude airspace in China, including earlier restrictions on drone flights in parts of Beijing.
